A GRIEVING mother has mounted a petition against a clamp-down on toys and personal mementoes on graves.

Tracy Brierley, of Egmont Street, Mossley, says she was devastated after council officials interfered with her son's grave.

Ben died at Tameside Hospital in November last year at just one day old.

The 26-year-old mum buried her son in Mossley Cemetery and visits the grave regularly with husband, Stephen, and their three other sons.

The family had left toys and flowers for Ben, which they change regularly, along with a wind chime in the tree next to his grave. But on a recent visit, they discovered the toys had been pushed to one side and the wind chime pulled down.

"I was very upset and crying and my children were crying," said Tracy.

"We thought somebody had vandalised it, I tried putting it all back, but I was in such a state."

Ben's gran, Jackie Proctor, said: "We were absolutely devastated. My daughter said to me it's like he has just died and I've just buried him again."

The council told Tracy the items had been moved to accommodate another funeral. They also said that from this summer everyone will be advised to remove mementos and only a headstone and a bunch of flowers will be allowed.

They have launched a petition against the move, which has so far attracted around 300 signatures.

Cemeteries boss Robin Monk said: "It was necessary to remove a number of items from her grave because they were affecting other cemetery users, but this was done with the respect we afford all our graves. Several windchimes in a nearby tree were one of the issues raised. The council obviously regrets any upset caused, but we do have a duty to ensure the health and safety and considerations of all our visitors."

He said the council had given serious consideration recently to personalised graves and would monitor them closely.